King of Kemensah 50km Trail Running – Surviving the Muddy Trail of Kemensah

It has been so long since I joined long distance trail running for 50km, I think few years back (or many years ago…).

Organized by “Team Pacat”, this is the 5^th edition of trail running under the brand name of King of Kampung Kemensah (KOKK).

Starting with 50km maximum distance previously and later added 84km under the brand flagship.

The race also have other distances as well – 5km fun run, 10km, 18km and 30km, to suits for all types of ages, training regime or for competitive runners.

The starting point will be at Dewan Orang Ramai in Kampung Kemensah which all runners will run 2.5km on the tarmac road and the rest will be on the trails.

Getting there :

Accommodation : There are plenty of chalet being built on the riverbanks and most of it are “water theme” chalet. You may google “chalet in kampong kemensah”, it will direct you to various choices.

Hotel around Melawati Mall will be the next option, depending on your preference.

Transportation : Not sure about bus going in through a narrow, 2 lanes road but a taxi is for sure (or own transport)

The Game Plan

50km will start at 12.00am and the cut-off time will be 11 hours 30 minutes later for the whole course.

However, there is another strict cut-off time imposed at the first part of the race – 6.30 hours at Bukit Roket

Runners who reach the check point after 6.30am will be disqualified (DQ).

The Route

Those who familiar with Kemensah trail will have easy navigation and what comes next on the trail in front of you.

But for those who don’t, 50km KOKK will make you run :

From Start to Bukit Roket (Bamboo Trail) – 8km

Bukit Roket to Pondok Repin – 16km

Pondok Repin to Bukit Roket – 24km

Bukit Roket to Sungai Pusu – 35km

Sungai Pusu to Bukit Roket – 46km

Bukit Roket to Start/Finish – 7km

                                                                    

It is more or less 53km.

The Trail Route

gpx file is here

The Trail Condition

Since its been raining for the past few days, Kemensah suffering a lot of downfall that makes the trails muddy and slippery.

Runners were having hard time to keep balance while running. Few runners were seen getting fall and slipped.

In view that the runners are running 7 hours in night mode, a good (or better) headlight/headlamp would greatly assist the runners for a running stability without (or lesser) missing a foot.

There will be countless time of river crossings too….

The Trail Difficulty

Kemensah trails have it’s own elevation and the serious one will be towards Pondok Repin (or Bukit Repin as Team Pacat call it).

There are 3 moderate killers hills that all runners need to endure i.e Bukit Merah, Bukit Korea and Bukit S. Bukit Korea is the baddest (I think) due to its distance.

The rest of the trails are mild hike and manageable.

What More to Expect

- Leeches – you may possibly get it from Bukit Roket to Bukit Repin

- muddy shoes – the mud will get into your shoes, and when you cross the river, the sand will get in too…you will feel uncomfortable.

- The signage/trail marker were excellent! Its glowing with white and red reflector. White reflector means that you are running towards next CP, Red reflector means that you are returning.

The reflector were nailed to the trees mostly.

- The Check Point (CP) will have drinks of plain water/hot coffee (due to cold weather), Kaya sandwich cut into small pieces, chips and/or dates (kurma).

The Journey

From Start, ran on the tarmac via Bamboo trail – 2.5km before entering the trail.

Reaching bukit roket 1 hour 40 minutes later with 8.3km distance from start

Stopped for quick bite on the kaya sandwich and a sip of hot coffee, I moved on to the next CP i.e Bukit Repin. Reached Bukit repin in 2 hours around 7km from bukit Roket. Having dates as a source of energy here.

Pondok Repin checked!

I made it to Bukit Roket just before the cut-off time at 5.20am (cut-off time is at 6.30am). I have ran/walk about 23.1km in 5 hours 19 minutes.

Made it before cut-off time! Yay!

Now moving forward to Next CP i.e Sungai Pusu from Bukit Roket.

Reached Sungai Pusu in almost 2 hours – clocked 7 hours 7 min, 29.5km from start at 7.07am

Sungai Pusu CP checked!

Continued to next CP – Trailhead of Sungai Pusu. On the way, met with ezam izzudin, Asha Ek, Albert lee, Isaac Osman – very strong runners who had made the u-turn from trailhead of Sungai Pusu. Reached Trailhead of Sungai Pusu in 1 hour 7 minutes, 33.6km from start at 8.15am.

Trailhead Sungai Pusu Checked!

From Bukit Roket to here in 3 hours, technically if I return back to Bukit Roket is another 3 hours (or more) that would be 11.15am already and another 7km to the finishing line. That would take another hour. Logically I may finish the race at 12.15pm, 12 hours 15 minutes which 45 minutes more than the cut off time.

And there is no way I can run climbing the multiple hills on my way back to finish the race before 11.30am. So, since I reached Trailhead Sungai Pusu at 8.15am and it is still early, I just took my own sweet time to savior the instant noodle, hot coffee and crackers.

Then, continued back to Bukit Roket at a slow pace. No point of speeding.

I reached Kem Saleh (hope the name is right) at 11.27am, 42.4km from start, I have ran/walk for the past 11 hours 27 minutes.

Kem saleh checked

I supposed to get back on track to Bukit Roket but since I already miss the cut-off time, I took a detour to a much shorter and less ‘physically tension’ route from kem saleh.

The track joined back 5km before finishing line with all the runners. There were 50km, 84km and 30km runners who walk ran and most of them unable to make it on time.

Walking in a hot scorching sun make it more difficult. I finished the race around 1.40pm, clocked in 50.7km, in 13 hours 40 minutes.

Done!

Things That Could Be Put Into Consideration in this KOKK – 50km

The cut-off time should be extended to 14 hours, as most of the runners unable to make it.

     However, I do understand that to determine the cut-off time, it will be measured according to elevation, trail difficulty, weather etc.

     In addition, if the organizer wants KOKK to be established as a collecting point for other races (utmb etc), it also need to administer the quality of the game for example Standard chartered KL full marathon cut off time is 7 hours whereas in Singapore, Standard Charted full marathon is 9 hours  - you can just finish the race by walking.

Nevertheless, 50km trail run is no laughing matter as we have to put a certain amount of time for training, commitment and any extra comes with it especially running apparels.

For those who finished the race within the cut-off time, you are really strong! And you deserve it. For those who don’t, train hard.